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Exhibit 10.135
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of August 20, 1998, between Ecogen Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and United Equities (Commodities) Company, a New York general
partnership (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the
Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control
with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.01 par value.
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"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the date which is the ten month anniversary date
of the Closing Date.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the Company's shares of 8% Series 1998-C
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, to be issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement (including any shares of Preferred Stock issued in payment of
dividends on the Preferred Stock).
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion in full of the Preferred Stock, provided, that in order to
account for the fact that the number of shares of Common Stock that is issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Stock is determined in part upon the market
price of the Common Stock at the time of conversion, Registrable Securities
shall include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to no less than 150% of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the
shares of Preferred Stock (including shares of Preferred Stock issuable as
dividends) are convertible,
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assuming a Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights of the Series 1998-C Convertible Preferred Stock) equal
to the lower of (x) the Stated Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate
of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series 1998-C Convertible
Preferred Stock) or (y) the Conversion Price on the date occurring five (5) days
prior to the Filing Date and assuming all dividends for a two year period are
paid in shares of Preferred Stock and that all such shares of Preferred Stock
are outstanding. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if
the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred
Stock are convertible exceeds twice the number of shares of Common Stock into
which the shares of Preferred Stock are convertible based upon a computation at
the Closing Date, the term "Registrable Securities" shall be deemed to include
such additional shares of Common Stock. With respect to the Registration
Statement filed with respect to the Registrable Securities issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock, the Company shall be required to file
additional Registration Statements to the extent the actual number of shares of
Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible exceeds the number of
shares of Common Stock registered in the initial Registration Statement
hereunder. The Company shall have ten (10) Business Days to file such additional
Registration Statements after notice of the requirement thereof, which the
Holders may give at such time when the number of shares of Common Stock as are
issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock, exceed 85% of the number of shares
of Common Stock registered in the initial Registration Statement hereunder.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including (in
each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders, for
which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
2. Shelf Registrations
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities required to be included herein in such Registration
Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
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pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if
the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another
appropriate form in accordance herewith). Each Registration Statement shall
state, to the extent permitted by Rule 416 under the Securities Act, that it
also covers such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be
required to effect conversion of the Preferred Stock to prevent dilution
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar events, or by reason of
changes in the Conversion Price in accordance with the terms of the Certificate
of Designations (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).
(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, and shall use its reasonable best
efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the date which is two years after the date that such
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to
such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent (the
"Effectiveness Period").
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 in accordance with Section 2(a) and
the method or methods of distribution thereof as specified by the Holders
(except if otherwise directed by the Holders), and cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided,
however, that not less than seven (7) Business Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders and their Special Counsel
copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than
those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to
the review of such Holders and their Special Counsel, and (ii) cause its
officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to
respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
respective counsel to such Holders, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act. The Holders or their Special Counsel will
provide the Company with their comments on the proposed Registration Statement
within five (5) Business Days of their receipt thereof (the "Review Period") and
if the Holders and their Special Counsel provide their comments to the Company
after the end of the Review Period, the Filing Date shall be extended by the
number of Business Days after the Review Period before which such comments were
provided.
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(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with
the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for
resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause
the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act;
and (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received
from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and
complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the
Registration Statement.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and
their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (i)(A) when a
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies
the Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and
whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement; and
(C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any
other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities
or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event that makes
any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any
material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) Furnish to each Holder and their Special Counsel, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
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furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each
form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and
their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(h) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered
to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall
be free, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of all restrictive legends,
and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and
registered in such names as Holders may request at least two Business Days prior
to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(v), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq National
Market (the "NASDAQ") and any other securities exchange, quotation system,
market or over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed.
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(k) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any
representative of such Holders, and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business
hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers,
directors, agents and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply
all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Holder,
representative, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that any information that is determined in good
faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential nature at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons, unless
(i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order
or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities; (ii)
disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to such Person, is
required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such
Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such Person from a source
other than the Company and such source is not known by such Person to be bound
by a confidentiality agreement with the Company. In the event that any Person is
requested or required to disclose any such information as described in clause
(i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, such Person shall provide the
Company with prompt prior notice so that the Company may seek a protective order
or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement. If such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or if the
Company waives compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, such Person
shall furnish only that portion of such confidential information that is advised
by such Person's counsel is legally required and shall exercise its best efforts
to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded to such confidential information.
(l) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission in connection with the Registration Statement.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by such Holder as
is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the
Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any
such Holder who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar Federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
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Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(i) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities
that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), or 3(c)(v), such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities
under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated
by Section 3(i), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case,
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company, shall be borne
by the Company whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or becomes
effective and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the NASDAQ or each other securities exchange or market
on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed and (B) in
compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws, (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and Special Counsel for the Holders (in the case of Special Counsel for the
Holders, such fees and disbursements shall not exceed $5,000), (v) Securities
Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees
and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition,
the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual audit, and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required
hereunder.
5. Indemnification
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including, without
limitation, brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal, in
connection with a block trade or as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock) and employees of each of them, each
Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors,
agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation
and attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising
out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of
prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein,
which information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to
the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's
proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information regarding such Holder so
furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in
the Registration Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was
reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement,
such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be
greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
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Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Each Holders's
indemnity set forth in this Section 5(b) shall survive the transfer of any
securities by such Holder.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that such failure shall have adversely
prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 10 Business
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether
it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require
such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount
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paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions,
statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses or (ii) if the allocation
provided in clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party hereunder. The relative fault
of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms. In addition, no Person shall be
obligated to contribute hereunder any amounts in payment for any settlement of
any action or claim effected without such Person's consent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this
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Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement
with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to
the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and
the Underlying Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the
Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account
or the account of others (other than in connection with the registration of
shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement between the Company and KA Investments LDC, dated June 5, 1998) under
the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or
Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with
any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company
shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written notice of such
determination and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, any
such holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(d)
that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that, for the purposes of this sentence,
Registrable
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Securities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or an
Affiliate of the Company are not deemed outstanding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of certain Holders and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given
by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this
sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via confirmed
facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to
8:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after
the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via
confirmed facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase
Agreement later than 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than
11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following
the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service,
or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Ecogen Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx XX 00000
Facsimile No.:(000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Paul, Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Purchaser: United Equities (Commodities) Company
000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
With copies to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP
The Chrysler Building
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
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If to any other Person
who is then the registered
Holder: To the address of such Holder as it appears
in the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. Subject to the immediately
succeeding sentence, the rights of each Holder hereunder, including the right to
have the Company register for resale Registrable Securities in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, shall be automatically assignable by each Holder to
any Affiliate of such Holder, any other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder
and up to six other assignees of all or a portion of the shares of Preferred
Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing with
the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement
is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignees is
restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv)
at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by
clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with
the Company to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(j) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each party hereto hereby submits to
the jurisdiction of the United States District Court and of any state court
sitting in the State of New York (and of the appropriate appellate courts) for
the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Agreement and
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irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
objection to venue laid therein. Process in any such proceeding may be served on
such party, and any judgment thereon may be enforced against such party,
anywhere in the world, whether within or without the State of New York.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
ECOGEN INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
UNITED EQUITIES (COMMODITIES) COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
--------------------------------------------------
Name: Philippe Kazt
Title: Partner
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